Mountains are beautiful in themselves. Add waterfalls and lakes, and the recipe gets even better. For today's installment of Get Out, we take you on a day trek to Lower Ausable Lake, which shines like a hidden blue jewel in New York's Adirondacks.

This a good daylong excursion for people of all ages and abilities, running about seven miles without much elevation unless you want to tack on connecting routes for additional mileage. It offers views of the Gothics range, a mountain stream, deep woods and handsome historic cottages on the grounds of the Ausable Club, a private summer enclave in St. Hubert where the trail begins on a private easement. No dogs are allowed on the trail.

Plan to leave in the morning and come back in late afternoon, allowing time for the 25-minute ferry ride across Lake Champlain from Charlotte to Essex, N.Y. From there, it's a 40-minute drive to the Keene Valley region and the hike starting point.

View of Lower Ausable Lake, N.Y.
(Photo:
Courtesy lakeplacid.com
)

The crossing

The ferry ride across the southern section of Lake Champlain is the first "ahh" moment of this excursion. Get out of the car, stand on the deck and enjoy the long, sweeping views, with mountains on both sides. Converse Bay stretches out on the Vermont side of the Lake, and Whallon Bay appears on the New York side. The state line between Vermont and New York cuts smack down the middle of the Lake and ferry route, although there is no (floating) sign.

In tiny Essex, you will find historic architecture, antiques, ice cream, art and jewelry if you care to stop before the hike. Or save time for a meander on the way home. From here the drive rolls over hills, past farmland and through small towns into the Keene Valley.

It's home to many of the 46 High Peaks in the 6 million-acre Adirondack Park, including the highest point in New York, the 5,344-foot Mount Marcy. Although the Park encompasses some 100 small towns and includes 3.4 million private acres, it is so vast that there are enormous sections of undisturbed land where nature rules.

There are communities with a sheen and plenty of tourists on the sidewalks, such as Lake Placid, as well as towns that seem to be caving in, just waiting for the woods to take over.

Park in the lot along Route 73. From there, take the ten-minute walk to the trailhead on the grounds of the private the Ausable Club, founded by sportsmen and high society swells, many from New York City.

The tennis players still wear white and many of the summer cottages are occupied by second or third generation members. Turn in near the tennis courts and walk to the sign-in station where the hiking options to the Lake begin.

Consider saving The Lake Road, a gravel way that in summer is plied by the occasional club bus transporting members to the Lake, for the way back. On the way out take the West River Trail that runs along the East Branch of the Ausable River.

The trail jogs along the river, with opportunities to sit on large boulders and watch the river flow, admire the mossy woodlands and check out the occasional heron.

In summer the water is typically mellow, but keep in mind that this is a popular four-season hike. If you venture back in early spring, the water is likely to roar in dramatic fashion. In winter, the ice creates sculptures. There are wooden bridges to cross, beaver dams to study and sheer rock faces to ogle.

While this is a popular trail, it does not tend to draw the sort of heavy traffic that can make hiking feel like a crowded freeway where a turn signal is needed to shift into the passing lane. Expect to see hikers of all ages, seniors, families with young children, people in-between.

From the start, the trail climbs gradually and after about an hour, comes to the lovely Beaver Meadow Falls. This is dramatic but perhaps not as beautiful as the point where the trail opens onto a meadow framing the mountains in the distance.

This picture feels more like a view out West than one in the East. Stop and enjoy it, then continue on as the trail scrambles up and down moderately along a strip of woods.

Buy Photo

The view opens up on the way to Lower Ausable Lake.
(Photo:
MOLLY WALSH/FREE PRESS
)

Then comes the real prize. The trail comes out of the woods to the view of Lower Ausable Lake, a narrow band of water slotted between steep mountains. Loons coast along the surface, as well as canoes from the old Ausable Club boathouse. Cottages dot one side of the lake.

Eat a picnic or sit down and rest. Enjoy the tucked-in beauty and tranquility. Cross the walkway at the dam and return on the gravel Lake Road. It might feel good to walk over a smooth surface with no rocks or sudden changes in elevation.

Once in the car, stop for pie in one of the nearby towns or ice cream in Essex. Hikers earn their dessert, after all.

Contact Molly Walsh at 660-1874 or mwalsh@burlingtonfreepress.com Follow Molly on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mokawa

If You Go

The travel time from Burlington to the trailhead in New York is about 90 minutes, including the ferry crossing. To map directions online to the trailhead, type in the destination as 16 Roaring Brook Trail, Keen Valley, N.Y., 12943.

From Burlington, head south for 15 miles to the Lake Champlain Ferries crossing in Charlotte. The three-mile ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. It leaves on the half-hour for much of the day. For information on rates and departures, go to www.ferries.com

From the Essex, N.Y. ferry landing, wind your way on Route 22 south to Route 9N, then jump on Interstate 87 south for about 15 miles to Exit 30 for U.S. 9, toward Route 73 to the Keene Valley.

Park on Route 73 across the road from the Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead for Giant Mountain. Walk ten minutes on Ausable Mountain Club Road/St. Hubert's past the golf course, toward the tennis courts. Turn in at the courts and look for signs and a small building with maps and information. Sign in to the log and start walking!